AWOL 2014 Issue 265 10th January

Page 3 Your free weekly newspaper since 2008 issue 2 65 10 January 2014 Siamese Stories English Corner Noticeboard Banking On It golf city unprecedented media exposure expected as asian golf tour arrives hua hin, THAILAND At a time when Thailand desperately needs some positive global exposure to counter the ongoing protests in Bangkok, Hua Hin is set to provide it as the penultimate round of the Asian Golf Tour will take place here, at the Black Mountain Golf Club from 16th to 19th January. The tournament is the King’s Cup, and a five year deal has recently been signed with the Asian Tour, although it is not know if it will always be staged in Hua Hin - however for the first time ever this month’s event will be broadcast live, over all four rounds on the Asian Tour’s global television platform which reaches over 180 countries and 640 million homes, ensuring extensive worldwide exposure for the Hua Hin, sponsors, and the Kingdom of Thailand itself. The tournament has also had it’s total prize money raised to $1 million (nearly 33 million baht), and will feature not only Hua Hin locals Prom Meesawat and Prayad Marksaeng, but also last year’s winner Arnond Vongvanij, and European players such as Swedes Johan Edfors, who won the inaugural Black Mountain Masters, Daniel Chopra and Fredrick Andersson Hed, as well as German Alex Cejka. In total there are 144 players taking part, and there will be local expat interest in Scotsman Simon Yates who lives in the area. The extensive media coverage will undoubtedly raise the profile of Hua Hin further, as both a top tourist and golfing destination and it must be hoped that this offsets to some extent the reported falling tourist arrivals in Thailand. Tee times were not available at press time, but more information on the event can be found on the Asian Tour website www.asiantour.com/ tournaments/74/ and details of the Black Mountain course on their website www.blackmountainhuahin.com. Victor guesthouse open 24/7 Naresdamri Rd. opposite Brasserie de Paris Rooms/family suites in heart of Hua Hin a/c, lcd tv, dvd player, fridge, free premium wifi, cable TV www.victorguesthousehuahin.com GET RACING FROM ONLY 400 BAHT! OPEN EVERYDAY 10.30AM - 7PM, LATE NIGHT BY APPOINTMENT Call 032 547 199 (Office) or 081 817 3000 (Mobile) Soi 2, Phetchkasem Road opposite Hua Hin Airport www.gokarthuahin.com